HOW TO WRITE A LIVING WILL""

A Living Will, also known as an Advance Healthcare Directive or Advance Medical Directive, is a legal document that provides your family, doctors, and caregivers with information about what life-saving measures you wish to undergo should there come a time when you are unable to communicate your wishes. This includes resuscitation options, guidelines of medications to give, and your wishes regarding life support. Living Wills work in concert with other medical directives, such as Do Not Resuscitate orders and Medical Power of Attorney. Part One of Three: Understanding a Living Will 1 Know the purpose. A Living Will is intended to convey your instructions for life-sustaining medical treatment in the event of a terminal illness or serious accident. It names someone to serve as your agent. This person, often a spouse or family member, consults the information provided in the documents and makes decisions about your care.[1] 2 Learn the risks not having a Living Will. Without a Living Will, you risk having decisions about your medical treatment made without consultation. This includes starting, maintaining, and ending life support systems, even if the person in control knows that the decision is against your wishes. Without a Living Will, your family members and loved ones may disagree about the right course of action in an emergency. Often, it is easier for people to make life and death decisions when they are guided by your wishes in a Living Will. It also reduces the stress on loved ones at an already stressful time. Additionally, your wishes are more likely to be followed and respected by your loved ones if they have guidance in writing.[2] 3 Understand the limitations. A Living Will is not the same as a Last Will and Testament. The Living Will does not provide instructions for any disposition of your property after your death, with the exception of organ donation.[3] Living Wills also do not cover every situation. For example, you may need treatment that is not contemplated by your Living Will.[4] In this situation, you will need an agent appointed by a Medical Power of Attorney to make medical decisions for you when you are incapacitated. 4 Create a Medical Power of Attorney. In addition to a Living Will, you should also create a Medical Power of Attorney (also called a “Healthcare Power of Attorney”). With this legal document, you will appoint someone to make medical decisions for you should you become incapacitated. Whereas a Living Will only applies if you are in a terminal condition, a Medical Power of Attorney will apply so long as you are incapacitated.[5] In the Medical Power of Attorney, you appoint an agent who can consent, refuse, or withdraw consent for any type of medical care or procedure.***prbxselfnetwork***